A Pacific storms moved into Wyoming and brought a round of heavy snow to western Wyoming. The highest amount reported was in the Salt and Wyoming Ranges with 25 inches of new snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS RIW wrote it up.
A Pacific storms moved into Wyoming and brought a round of heavy snow to western Wyoming. The highest amount reported was in the Salt and Wyoming Ranges with 25 inches of new snow. There were numerous other reports of over a foot of new snow. Heavy snow also fell in the Tetons with 21 inches of new snow at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. Star Valley and Jackson Valley also saw heavy snow; with numerous reports of 10 to 20 inches of new snow. In the wind prone areas in Natrona County, some high wind was noted. Wind gusted as high as 75 mph along Wyoming Boulevard on the south side of Casper.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Riverton, WY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 13, 4:00 AM MST, 4 hours earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Riverton WY 400 AM MST Thu Feb 13 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Dangerously cold temperatures across the Cowboy State this morning, especially across western WY and portions of the Bighorn Basin. - Strong gusty winds are possible from Casper to Rock Spring this afternoon through Friday morning. - A Pacific weather system moves into the region during the afternoon bringing moderate to heavy snowfall across western WY and light snowfall for southern WY. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 113 AM MST Thu Feb 13 2025 The cold frigid temperatures continue this morning across the Cowboy State. Temperatures have already dropped to around minus 20 in portions of the Bighorn Basin, YNP, Jackson Hole and the Upper Green River Basin. The Bighorn Basin along with other locations such as Jackson Hole, Star Valley, and the upper Green River Basin look to see the coldest temperatures Thursday morning. Guidance supports this with most of these locations having a 40-70% chance of seeing lows at or colder than minus 20. The remainder of the CWA east of the Divide is not expected to see nearly as cold temperatures due to the lack of snowpack. Forecasted low temperatures will still be cold ranging from zero to minus 10. As a result, Cold Weather Advisories remain in effect though late Thursday morning across western valleys and the Bighorn Basin. The next weather maker looks to arrive Thursday afternoon. The setup looks to be a deep trough that digs across the western CONUS. The bulk of the energy will remain well to the south of the state. However, there still looks to be good chances for snow mainly across western and southern WY. Southern WY is going to see light snow develop during afternoon Thursday and continue into Friday morning. Guidance is not showing big impacts but much of the area will likely seeing a coating to 1 inch of snow (30-60%). Southwestern WY has the better chance of seeing more than 3 inch of snow with current guidance suggesting a 40-70% chance. Westerly flow will keep moderate to heavy snowfall across western WY through much of the weekend leading to the greatest accumulations among western mountains. Lower elevation basins in western WY look to see periods of snowfall as well with guidance showing a 40-70% chance of seeing 6 or more inches of snow. Due to the increased confidence Lower elevations across western WY including Star Valley, Jackson Hole, and the Upper Green River Basin are under Winter Storm Warnings. Winter Storm Watches have been upgraded to Warnings for western mountains from the Salt River/Wyoming ranges to the Tetons/Gros Ventre. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for YNP due to the majority of the park seeing below warning criteria snowfall amounts. Winter Weather Advisories have also been issued for the western Wind River Range, southern Lincoln County, and the Green River Basin. Guidance is in good agreement that western mountains have a 60-80% chance of seeing a foot or more of snow. The remainder of the CWA will likely see little to no impacts from this system. Models do show the possibility for some light snow showers in parts of the central and northern CWA as the system moves to the east over the weekend with very minimal impacts. The other concern that develops as a result of this incoming system is an increase in winds. Models show a pretty potent jet setup across portions of central WY with 700 MB winds of 55 to 65 knots. The greatest area of concern will be along the Wind Corridor from Casper to Rock Springs where guidance shows a 40-70% of seeing gusts of 50 or more mph. Due to this High Wind Watches have been upgraded to High Wind Warnings for portions of Natrona County and the Green/Rattlesnake Mountains. Winds decrease during the day Friday with breezy conditions lingering through the weekend. Aside from moderate to heavy snowfall across western WY, much of the remainder of the CWA will see moderating temperatures over the weekend into the start of next week. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 400 AM MST Thu Feb 13 2025 VFR conditions to start the period for all TAF locations. Some upper level clouds and light winds before starting to increase in cloud coverage west to east after 17Z and through the afternoon hours. Winds increase at CPR with the tightening gradient and daytime heating mixing boundary layer winds to the surface. Gusts up to 30kts after 14Z, and up to 40kts after 18Z through the evening hours diminishing some after sunset. Increasing snow chances at JAC after 19Z spreading to BPI/PNA after 21Z remain so through the end of the period. Deteriorating conditions in alignment with BUFKIT soundings with IFR to even LIFR conditions at these locations after 00Z and worse after 06Z. Snow will let up into the next TAF cycle with some categorical improvement but still lingering through much of Friday. Some minimal chances for snow and MVFR conditions at LND/RKS after 06Z but carrying PROB30 groups due to lower confidence further south and east of the Divide. Please see the Aviation Weather Center and/or CWSU ZDV and ZLC for the latest information on icing and turbulence forecasts. && .RIW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Saturday for WYZ001. Cold Weather Advisory until 10 AM MST this morning for WYZ003- 004-006-012-013-023-025-026. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Saturday for WYZ012-013-023-024. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM MST Friday for WYZ014. High Wind Warning from 8 AM this morning to 5 AM MST Friday for WYZ019-020. Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Friday for WYZ025. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 8 AM MST Friday for WYZ026-027. && DISCUSSION...Dziewaltowski AVIATION...Lowe
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Riverton WY 421 AM MST Thu Feb 13 2025 WYZ001>020-022>030-141530- Yellowstone National Park-Absaroka Mountains-Cody Foothills- North Bighorn Basin-Southwest Bighorn Basin-Southeast Bighorn Basin- Owl Creek and Bridger Mountains-Bighorn Mountains West- Bighorn Mountains Southeast-Northeast Johnson County- Southeast Johnson County-Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains- Jackson Hole-Wind River Mountains West-Wind River Mountains East- Upper Wind River Basin-Wind River Basin-Lander Foothills- Green Mountains and Rattlesnake Range- Natrona County Lower Elevations-Casper Mountain-Star Valley- Salt River and Wyoming Ranges-Upper Green River Basin Foothills- Upper Green River Basin-South Lincoln County- Rock Springs and Green River-Flaming Gorge-East Sweetwater County- 421 AM MST Thu Feb 13 2025 ...Cold Weather Advisories in effect for portions of western WY and the Bighorn Basin through 10 AM Thursday... ...Winter Storm Warnings in effect across western mountains and western valleys from Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning... ...Winter Weather Advisories in effect across southern Lincoln County, western Wind River Range, YNP, and the Green River Basin from Thursday afternoon through Saturday morning... ...High Wind Warnings in effect across portions of Natrona County and the Green/Rattlesnake Ranges from Thursday morning through Friday morning... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Western and Central Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Morning lows Thursday will be dangerously cold across much of the state. Locations with fresh snowpack may see temperatures in the negative teens to negative twenties. Cold Advisories remain in place for portions of the Bighorn Basin, Green River Basin, Jackson Hole, Star Valley, and the Tetons for Thursday morning. These locations are forecast to see windchill values of minus 25 to minus 40. Winds increase during the afternoon with strong gusty winds of 50 to 60 mph along the Wind Corridor from Casper to Rock Springs. A Pacific system arrives Thursday bringing widespread chances for snow across western and southern WY. Lighter accumulations are expected across southern WY with light snow showers lingering into the overnight hours. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Friday through Saturday...Western WY will see moderate to heavy snowfall that lingers through Saturday morning. Snow gradually dissipates on Saturday across western WY with a brief pause in the action until Sunday. Sunday through Tuesday...Another round of accumulating snow is increasing in certainty. Moderate to heavy snowfall is possible across the higher elevations of western WY. Lower elevation basins in western WY look to see another round of light to moderate snowfall as well. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter storm, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained winds 50 to 53 mph for several hours along with a 74 mph wind gust at the Fales Rock RAWS site.
High wind occurred on the south side of Casper. Wind gusts as high as 75 mph occurred along Wyoming Boulevard with a wind gusts of 68 mph along Hat Six Road.
Heavy snow fell in the Tetons. The highest amount was 21 inches at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. Numerous other locations reported over a foot of new snow.
There were numerous reports of over 8 inches of new snow in the Jackson Valley, with a maximum of 19 inches the southwest of Wilson.
Most SNOTEL sites reported over a foot of new snow, including a maximum of 25 inches the Willow Creek SNOTEL site.
Many locations in the Star Valley received over 8 inches of new snow. The highest amount fell at Bedford where 20 inches was reported.
Eight inches of new snow fell at the East Rim Divide SNOTEL site.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wyoming in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Wyoming, February 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1231319, 1231320, 1231321, 1231322, 1231323, 1231324, 1231325.